Hawai'i is a Pacific islands state comprised of eight major islands: Ni'ihau, Kaua'i, O'ahu, Mau'i, Moloka'i, Lana'i, Kaho'olawe and the Big Island of Hawai'i. Its capital is situated on the southern shores of O'ahu in Honolulu, which in Hawai'ian means "sheltered bay."

Hawai'ian history dates back to the 13th century. Its modern era began in the 1800s when Kamehameha the Great unified the islands to become the Kingdom of Hawai'i. In 1893, Queen Lydia Lili'uokalani was overthrown by American businessmen in favor of annexation to the U.S. to protect profits. A republic was declared and ruled by an oligarchy of plantation owners. President McKinley officially annexed the Republic of Hawai'i which ushered in its territorial era. In 1959, Hawai'i won its statehood.

On November 23, 1993, President Clinton enacted Congressional Joint Resolution 19 to become U.S. Public Law 103-150. The law was an official apology on behalf of the United States to Hawai'ians for the illegal overthrow of its monarchy and use of military force to remove its peaceful ruling Queen.

Hawai'i's rich political history was dominated by a strong political machine often likened to Chicago's Daley system and New York's Tammany Hall. Machine Democrats were kept in power by various ethnic minorities which used to work on Hawai'i's plantations, most notably citizens of Japanese, Chinese and Filipino ancestry. As the economy and industries changed, Hawai'i's government was bound for change, too. This led to a call for reforms which resulted in the breakup of the machine in 2002.

Today, Hawai'i prides itself as being the nation's most technologically advanced state, home to the world's most advanced telecommunications system, according to the Office of the Governor. It is one of five states that has 100% digital switching for telecom and is the only state that has more fiber optic cable per mile, per capita.

The major state industries are: coffee, pineapple, beef, tourism and high technology.

Polls are open from 7:00am to 6:00pm Hawaii Time (UTC-10) Hawaii does not observe DST.

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